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Atmel announced today the availability of the ATR1841 and ATR1842 front monitor diode (FMD) ICs for use in the optical pick-up units (OPUs) of slim and ultra-slim HD-DVD and Blu-ray drives.

These new devices measure only 3 mm x 3 mm.

The ATR1841 and ATR1842 support all wavelengths used in CD, DVD, and HD-DVD/Blu-ray drives. Both devices have a serial interface, which allows manufacturers, using firmware, to change between the 3 gain modes and to adjust the gain by +/- 6 dB in each mode. The serial interface also reduces the overall bill of material as external potentiometers are no longer needed to control the gain. Additionally, it enables a reduction in pin-count, thus allowing the device to be packaged in Atmel's advanced 3 mm x 3 mm QFN package.

This Atmel-patented open package has a cavity, which permits the laser direct access to the die surface and therefore to the photo diode, resulting in improved system performance and a higher yield.

Both ATR1841 and ATR1842 have an high channel bandwidth of over 160 MHz, while maintaining a low noise level of less than -80 dBm, ideal for 8x HD-DVD and Blu-ray drives.

In addition, Atmel's process technology has been proven not to suffer from degradation of the photo diode when exposed to blue laser light over extended periods of high temperature (as in a standard HD-DVD/Blu-ray drive), which further improves the reliability and lifetime of the drive.

Samples of the ATR1841 and ATR1842 in 3 mm x 3 mm, environmentally-friendly QFN open packages are now available. Pricing starts at US $0.80 for quantities of 10k.